Since 1991, middle school students from the Anchorage School District have come together to compete at the Egan Center for the Big Wild Life Trivia Contest. The event challenges students to do a deep dive about Anchorage through their Alaska Studies course. The questions and study guides are written by Visit Anchorage staff with content varying from each year. This year, there was a special emphasis on Anchorage’s Centennial.
This year’s event, November 10th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will include a special address by Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz. Cary Carrigan, longtime local radio personality, will serve as emcee. The judging panel is comprised of local celebrities ranging from political leaders, federal judges, local athletes and this year, Miss Alaska and Miss Outstanding Teen will be joining. Contest participants receive t-shirts and winners receive prizes donated by Visit Anchorage members. Parents, friends and the community at large are invited to attend.
Eight schools are participating this year:
- Central Middle School of Science
- Romig Middle School
- Goldenview Middle School
- Wendler Middle School
- Gruening Middle School
- Begich Middle School
- Family Partnership Charter School
- Mirror Lake Middle School
A twist on tradition
In addition to the success of the traditional live competition, Visit Anchorage has made an effort to make the contest accessible to the entire school district with an online component.
“While we’ve basically done things the same way for the past 25 years, we are moving to keep the contest itself relevant to today’s teens by introducing an online elimination round component so all schools will have the ability to participate and send their top students to the final round next November,” says Brenda Carlson, Visitor Services Director for Visit Anchorage.
